DIY Pin Tucked Duvet Cover

A New Year brings new things. For me, it was a duvet cover. I made an impulse buy of a beautiful Paisley Duvet Cover at TJ Maxx just the other day. I brought home my treasure, dropped everything and put it on my comforter. After admiring my bed for about a day, I slowly started to realize that I had purchased something that I had not budgeted for, spent too much money on($40 is a LOT of money to me), and, of all things, that I could easily make myself. So, sadly, I returned my beautiful Paisley duvet and started researching on the internet. I found myself drawn to the Pin-Tucked style of Anthropologie's Kissing Pleat duvet

The price for this one was way out of my budget, and this style is no longer available through Anthropologie. So I found several more options. West Elm has a similar style, in organic cotton, for a smaller price ($99), but it was still out of my budget.

I also found that Target carries a line called 'Kissing Pleat" for $70-$80 and Wal-Mart's Better Homes and Gardens line has a pleated comforter in-stores, or at least the one by me, for about $60-$80. While perusing the internet for my spoils, I remembered a friend of mine mentioning that she would make her own covers from two flat sheets sewn together. I started looking for cute sheets that would go with my existing bedroom decor... but never found any single sheets for under $20.

So, I went out on the town... Four stores and three hours later, I came home empty handed and frustrated. I had found no single flat sheets, only expensive sheet SETS, and I had no idea as to where I could go from there. It was back to the drawing board. I knew that I could find a way to make my own cover, but I just needed to rejuvenate. After a half-hour of searching the internet, I remembered my pin-tucked duvets that I had fallen in love with... and, silly me, I GOOGLED 'How to make your own pin-tucked duvet cover'. Cayenne and Carob was the blog that came up, with a page about making pin-tucked pillows. So, I figured I would try it... and may I say, it was a smashing success.

First, I went out and bought some PLAIN flat sheets from -GASP- Wal-Mart. I'm not a big Wal-Mart fan, but when the going gets tough... buck up and go to the big W. There, I found two Navy blue flat sheets, queen size, for $11 each. Total cost: $23 with tax. It was a good start. I took the sheets home and started my quest. After washing the sheets, I spread the sheets out in my living room, as that's the only place big enough for me to work on a project such as this.

I then mapped out a grid for my pin-tucks. I roughly followed the fold lines, just because I'm a little lazy and wanted a more random look, using chalk to mark the places.After that, I used the method shown on Cayenne's blog, which she borrowed from Martha Stewart Magazine, to tie the pin-tucks.*EDIT*

And as per request, here's a little update on the pin-tucking!

In this method, I used a sewing machine INSTEAD of doing it by hand. Mind you, you can still do it by hand, it just takes a little longer and is more likely to come out. So, pinch your sheet (hehe that sounded funny!) where you would like your pin-tuck to be.

I laid out all of mine and safety pinned them, just so it was easier to do them with the sewing machine.

Then twist it, like so, so when you sew it, it'll pucker itself into a gorgeous little kisser.

Then, sew the tip of the sheet, so it stays permanently twisted. The deeper into the sheet you sew it, the more it will pucker and the fluffier it will be. I bought a King size sheet the second time around, just so I could experiment with how deep my puckers would be.

It should come out looking like this.

Or this. I back-stitched mine quite a few times, just to make sure it was sturdy and wouldn't come out in the wash, as a few of my hand ones did on the last cover.

When you lay it flat, the sheet will look like this. Make sure that you like how it folds, if not, simply run it through the machine again and do it a little deeper.

Here's what it should look like as you start doing more of the pin-tucks. The closer the spacing, the more your sheet is going to pucker.

Here's what my second one looked like when it was almost done. Even laying down, it was pretty gorgeous!!

*EDIT EXIT*

After completing my grid of pin-tucks, I pulled out my sewing machine sewed the two sheets together, leaving an opening at the bottom, so I could get my comforter inside it. I used a straight stitch, since I am a novice seamstress. Remember to sew the sheets facing in (So when you flip it inside out to put the comforter in, the finished side is on the outside). Made that mistake... and had to pull it apart and sew that side again. After sewing them together, I put it on my comforter... and VOILA! Finished product!

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comments:

Hi Trissta, Cayenne here. Fantastic result on the pin-tuck-if-ying. I posted the instructions on pin-tucking so long ago that I forgot to try it. Now you have inspired me to give it a whirl. Thank you for showing your nice work.Cayenne

Hey! For the last couple of weeks I've been scouring Ross, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Target, etc. for flat sheets or duvets that are even close to cute and as cheap as possible but to no avail. I, too, love the pin-tucked look and have been lusting over the various RIDICULOUSLY priced duvet covers I've seen online but those are so not going to happen. I'm not the craftiest person (but am the bargainest shopper ever. haha) but think your DIY duvet might just be worth a shot. I'll probably butcher it but if it turns out well, I'll love it even more because it'll be around $20 and made by me! haha. Thanks for the inspiration. If I go through with it, I'll let you know!

You are my hero! I bought West Elm's duvet cover, to have it tear at the stitches constantly. I love the look, and thought it may be worth it if I could do it cheaper. So my question to you is, does yours rip at the stitches at all? If not, I'm off to Walmart to make myself a new duvet cover!

Cindy, I have had a few of my stitches come out, but I haven't had a problem since then... Possibly because of the triple knot that I ended up putting them in with. :) I am still using mine to this day! I love it!

I am so obsessed with this duvet but can't bring myself to spend the money on the real thing. Thank you so much for sharing your DIY solution, I posted it on my blog to share with my readers: http://the-budgetista.com/2010/11/29/the-look-for-less-west-elms-organic-cotton-pin-tuck-duvet/

Thanks for posting this - I'm totally making one this weekend! I picked up two really nice king size flat sheets at IKEA for $30 and if all goes well I'll go get a twin sheet and make matching shams :) I'm doing this one grey but was also thinking you could use 2 different color sheets and make it reversible.

Thanks for posting this and "blazing the trail" so to speak. ;) I've been wanting to revamp our bedroom, only on the cheap. We currently have a perfectly fine plain duvet, but I love the pin tuck look. I was thinking of just putting pin tucks in it, but I wasn't thrilled at the prospect of hand-sewing all those little points on a king size, so thanks for the inspiration of sewing them on the machine.

that is gorgeous! i actually have the west elm version (but i had credit so it was free to me!) i love this idea because then you could have any color you want and i loooove the dark bold color you chose.

This is awesome, I've been staring at the pics of the West Elm duvet for days now, wondering how to make it myself. THANK YOU! Can't wait to try. Do you remember approximately how far apart you spaced your tucks? I'm worried I won't have enough, or something.

THIS IS BEYOND GENIUS!! Do you think a king size sheet turned duvet will still fit my king size comforter and bed? I don't have a sewing machine...man oh man...must get one! I've come across many genius ideas that require a sewing machine.

thanks so much for your tutorial. I have been wanting to make this for my daughters bed for a while and now I know I can without buying one at the store. You said that you used a king sized sheet...is your bed a king size or a queen size? I was just wondering how much smalller it become once it is finished to see if I can make one for my bed too.

Thank you so very very much for this tutorial! I didn't even have to go anywhere else for clarification, it was so extremely helpful! I found your blog on Pinterest, and I'm so thankful! I have two small dogs that like to eat blankets, and they just destroyed my last duvet a week ago...and tonight I have a new one! I'm only out the $$$ for 2 sheets, thread, and buttons (for the closure) I'm blogging this to continue sharing your advice! thanks a million! check my blog at http://tiffertoes-thecrazycatlady.blogspot.com/

I love it. I snatched up 2 brand new sheets from the thrift store for $10. I went a little deeper when I sewed it and it looks fab. I'm going to make some contrasting fabric roses to cover up the tips. I can't wait to finish. What an awesomely cheap way to change the look of a room!

I love this idea! I am a quilter so this really isn't much different. One day when I have girls I might have to try and make this. (I am just finishing up a quilt for when I get married to my man in a few months!)

Hi there! I stumbled upon your blog as I was looking for how to make a duvet out of flat sheets, I have a really nice comforter that I bought for my fiance and I months ago but didn't realize it was an "oversized queen," and it's really hard to find a decent duvet cover! Anyway, I found your tutorial and made an awesome cover for it, fiance thought I bought it!! Thank you SO much for posting this, I can't wait to make another one!

Just wanted to say thanks for this awesome tutorial-- it was easy to follow and I made a queen-size duvet cover in an afternoon. Since I was using thrifted sheets, it cost about $10! (Here's the result: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/16044142396103138/)

Hi, I want to know how much fabric you got for this king size duvet cover. I know that the standard size for a king size duvet is 86*102 but considering that this pinching technique takes quite a bit extra fabric, how much fabric you got? Also did you put a joint in the middle or the fabric was wide enough?

I need to know also if I'm using king size sheets to account for tucks and 1/2 seam allowances will that fit a queen size insert? Also, best idea on how much of the twist is best to sew? 1" down or less to keep it in the right c amount of needed size from king sheets to fit queen insert with drop.

I need to know also if I'm using king size sheets to account for tucks and 1/2 seam allowances will that fit a queen size insert? Also, best idea on how much of the twist is best to sew? 1" down or less to keep it in the right c amount of needed size from king sheets to fit queen insert with drop.